With the NBA draft right around the corner, now is the time to look at some past drafts and see what the Philadelphia 76ers have done in their history. The Sixers have selected some big-time players in the past who have become an important part of the fabric of the franchise’s history.
This edition takes everyone back to the 2017 draft with the Sixers holding the No. 1 pick. They originally had the No. 3 pick, but they made a trade with the Boston Celtics to swap the picks and move up to No. 1 to add to a roster primed to take the next step in the rebuild. With that pick, the Sixers took Markelle Fultz out of Washington.
What transpired was a bizarre shoulder injury and a lot of confusion. Fultz only played 33 games across two seasons as a member of the Sixers averaging 7.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds as he was limited by thoracic outlet syndrome. Many were confused by how he suffered the injury and it just led to a disappointing tenure in Philadelphia before he was sent to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 trade deadline.
Fultz had a solid run with the Magic as he developed into a starting point guard in this league despite continuing to battle constant injuries that held him back. He averaged 11.6 points and 4.8 assists in five seasons with Orlando and is now with the Sacramento Kings.
#Markelle #Fultz
